The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-02-09
JAY GOULD.

WHAT HE THINKS OF THE INTERSTATE
COMMERCE BILL.
NEW YORK, Feb. Jay Gould arrived
in New York on Sunday, after an absence
of three weeks spent in thorugh inspec-
ton Of the southwestern railroads. He
was at his Office in the Western Union
building yesterday and nearly all day was
deeply immersed in business. When he
was somewhat at leisure he said to Til
bune reporter: 81 have been through four
teen States since left home, not to speak
of looking over the border into Mexico
/ went as far as Laredo. Mr. Clark, who
took Mr.. Hoxie's place, had not been over
some of our lines in Texas, and part Of
the trip was largely for his benefit as
General Manager Of the system. Every
where in the West we found confidence
and prosperity there among business men.
There is something very nearly approach
ing a business boom at the West, and the
falk among all classes is confidence and
courage. The movement of merchandise
on the Missouri Pacific is extremely large.
I have dispatch from Mr.. Clark in which
is given the movement of freight trains on
Saturday and yesterday. On Saturday it
comprised 459 freight trains Of 1885 cars,
an increase of 220 trains and $40 loads
compared with the same time last year,
and yesterday there were moved 416
freight trains containing 6422 loads, an
increase of 1872 trains and 2410 loads over
the same day last year. Our business is
increasing in about that proportion right
along, and this fact proves better perhaps
than anything I can say Of the hopeful
feeling throughout the West. find on
my return that opinions here seem to be
greatly mixed, to say the least, and am
a little surprised after the experiences of
the last three weeks. No, do not think
the people in the West regard the strike
here as matter of great Importance. At
any rate, they did not seem to pay much
attention to it.
| As to the Interstate Commerce Bill,
they hope to derive great advantage
from it. It is rather curious fact that
the people who will be likely to suffer
most from the practical operations of this
measure are mnch more heartily in favor
of it than the people of the East. know
little about the probable action of the
President, but dispatch was shown me
lust now which stated that three menu
bers of the Cabinet were opposed to 1t and
the others were in favor of it. should
think that the chances were about even
that the President might sign or veto it..
1t would make him very popular with
some classes if he should send out ring
! ing message in objection to the bill
I There is one clause in it that think is
|plainly unconstitutional, because while
Congress may have the right to regulate
commerce between the States, it can have
no right to delegate its authority to a
third party-the commission that the bill
establishes. / believe this view will be
maintained by the courts when the ques.
ton comes before them. There will be
some advantage derived from the law il
railroads will live strictly up to its letter
1t will be shown how utterly inadequate
legislation is in graphing with customs
and regulations in transportation thai
have grown up with the development Of
our railroad syftem. If the railroads viii
closely follow the law it will be repealed
in six months. If they do not do SO, but
. try to evade it, each for himself-well, il
will be somebody to catch the hindmost.
Mr.. Gould said that he had no informa
: ton whatever in regard to the reported
i new telegraph line between Chicago AMI
: New York.